US approves visas for top Iranian leaders to attend UN General Assembly

Iran’s delegation to UNGA will be smaller this year, with travel restrictions and limits on luxury goods purchases.The United States is allowing an Iranian delegation to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City next week, a Department of State spokesman said, in spite of the protracted war that is raging into its seventh month.A source familiar with the matter confirmed the delegation would cover Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and their essential staff to attend the High-Level Week in person.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3UN fact-finding mission says US committed possible war crimes in Iranlist 2 of 3Macron and Aoun discuss efforts to back Lebanon’s army, end Israeli attackslist 3 of 3Russia, China veto UN mandate to monitor Iran sanctionsend of list“Consistent with our host country obligations, the core delegation from the Iranian regime will be able to attend UN General Assembly High Level Week,” the State Department spokesman said.The US official added that only a scaled-down delegation will be permitted, and that they will confront tighter travel curbs and luxury import prohibitions “per our policy”.The 81st UNGA will unfold against the backdrop of a grinding military impasse between the two countries, with no clear path towards reopening the Strait of Hormuz or reviving Washington-Tehran talks of ending the war.The disruption of the vital chokepoint — which handles roughly 20 percent of global seaborne energy transit — has sent global oil prices soaring.US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the conflict with Iran is nearing its end, and recently claimed his administration has held direct talks with officials in Tehran, even as fighting flares in Yemen between Houthi forces and the Saudi-led coalition over the Bab al-Mandeb strait, where Houthi forces have seized control.